Automobile jack



A. C. WOLF F AUTOMOBILE JACK July 13, 1937.

Filed IvlayA 22, 1955 INVENTOR Patented Juy 13, 1937 QNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE JACK Arthur C. Wolff, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application May 22,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile jacks. i

Broadly it is the object of the invention to provide novel and improved means whereby to gauge the position of an automobile jack with reference to the axle.

In modern automobiles the bodies, and particularly the fuel tanks, extend so close to the ground and overhang the axle to such a degree that it is almost impossible for the operator properly to position the jack beneath the axle. If he attempts to do so he will find it necessary to either kneel or lie upon the ground, and even then it is very difficult, at a distance of several feet, to see whether the jack is accurately positioned. By means of the present invention it is possible for the operator to push the jack beneath the car and accurately position it beneath the axle without seeing or attempting to see its position, gauge means regisferable between the car and the jack being relied upon through the sense of touch to determine the actual position.

More specifically, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a gauge means which will be effective between the jack and the axle a and yet will not prevent the passage of the jack beneath the overhanging portions of the vehicle such as the fuel tank, which is frequently lower than the axle itself. For this purpose I have disclosed in the accompanying drawing a variety of means whereby the jack may be passed'beneath the axle with the gauge approximately `horizontal or otherwiselowered, and the gauge may subsequently be erected and used to ilx the position of the jack.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a jack embodying the present invention, this embodiment being so devised that it is applicable as an attachment to existing jacks.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in plan showing a preferred form of connection between the handle'and the body of the jack in the apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing an embodiment of my gauge invention applied to a hydraulic jack, this preferred form of gauge being, however, applicable to any type of jack.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a further modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a further modi- `ned embodiment,

1935, Serial No. 22,743

Like parts are identied by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

vThe disclosure of Fig. 1 as to the actual functioning of the gauge is typical of the devices shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The automobile tire 8 carried by wheel 9 mounted on load bearing axle I0, has been punctured and the jack positioned beneath the load bearing axle for the lifting thereof. Except as hereinafter noted, the jack I5 is of conventional design. It comprises a base or shoe I6 suciently broad to be slidable along the road surface. Integral with the base I6 is a standard I1 into which is receivedthe jack screw I8. Mounted upon the standard I1 is the usual bevel gear I9, the hub of which constitutes a nut meshing with screw I8 for the elevation and lowering thereof. The gear I9 is driven by pinion 20 with which the generally conventional collapsible jack handle 2I is releasably connected.

The device for centering the jack beneath the axle comprises a gauge, preferably telescopic in form. The supporting clamp 22 is longitudinally adjustable upon the jack standard I1 to determine the spacing between the gauge and the cap 23 of the jack screw. Once this adjustment is obtained for any given axle, it is allowed to remain permanently. Consequently, for a wide variety of axles it is possible to omit this adjustment.

Carried by the clamp 22 is the gauge proper, comprising, in the present device, the tubes' 24 and 25 and a rod 250, whereby the gauge is telescopically collapsible for storage andv may be -extended suiilciently high to assure its engagement with the faxle as shown.

It will be obvious that the jack cannot-be thrust beneath the axle while the gauge is upright as shown in Fig. 1. In the position shown, the gauge would not even clear the. fuel tank at the rear of the vehicle nor the apron at the front. Accordingly means is provided, varying in the various lembodiments of my invention, for introducing the jack beneath the axle before the gauge is erected to the position illustrated.

One means of accomplishing the desired result is to provide some sort of handle connection to the body of the jack itself, whereby the jack as a whole may be manipulated either to lie on its side or to stand vertically. The jack may be introduced beneath the car in its horizontal position and may subsequently be erected when all obstacles have been cleared. In theconstruction shown in Fig. v1 the handle 2I used to operate the pinion 20 may be made to serve the addiyns tional function of a handle for the manipulation of the jack as a whole.

To this end I have provided on the frame member 26 which houses pinion 20. one or more clutch teeth such as that shown at 2`| in Fig. 2. Splined for axially sliding movement on the handle 2| is a clutch member '28 having complementary teeth at 28 engageable with tooth 21 on the `iack body. A compression spring 30 seated against collar 3| on handle 2| tends to urge the clutch member 28 into engagement to lock the handle 2| against rotation with respect to the jack body.

'Ihe pressure of spring 30 is. however, subject to the control of a wire or tension line 33 which may have a ring 34 at its end engageable over either of the hooks 35 or 36 on the outer end of the handle. When the ring is engaged over hook 36 the clutch member '28 is retracted as shown in Fig. 2, but when the ring is engaged with hub 35 the clutch member is engageable as shown in Fig. 1. With the clutch member en gaged, the handle is used to manipulate the `jack body as a whole and to thrust it beneath the car in a horizontal position and erect it to vertical position when all obstructions have been cleared.

When the handle has been thrust full length beneath the car and the jack is then erected. the gauge 250 will be disposed forwardly of the load bearing axle I0, so that when the handle is now pulled to draw the jack rearwardly the gauge will contact the axle and accurately center the jack therebeneath. The ring 34 is now pulled into engagement with hook 36, thereby disengaging the clutch and leaving the handle 2| free tol rotate with respect to the jack. 'Ihe handle may now be used to turn pinion 20 and to raise or lower the jack as desired, and in `the usual manner.

lIn the construction shown in Fig. 5 the gauge clamp 22 and the gauge elements 24, 25, and 250 are identical with those previously described, but they are located rearwardly of the Jack to engage the near side rather than the far side of the axle. 'I'he clearance on the near side of the axle is comparatively limited on any vehicle and accordingly this construction, while opera-` tive, is not preferred.

As a means of turning any Jack on its side and raising it to vertical position beneath the car, I have shown in Fig. 5 a different handle arrangement wherein the conventional handle 2| is simply connected by a folding brace 38 with the base I6 of the Jack. The brace is nonrotatably clamped at 39 to the handle so that the braced handle constitutes a structure rigid with reference to the body of the jack for the unitary manipulation of the jack in any direction desired. When the jack is positioned the clamp 39 will, of course, be loosened to permit the handle 2| to function for the raising and lowering of the Jack in the usual manner.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the gauge is automatically 'raised or lowered by the initial rotation of the handle 2| in the direction to raise or lower the jack respectively. The jack construction is, for purposes of illustration, generally similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 5. there being a base I6 from which the head 2l is adjustably supported by a conventional Jaick screw (not shown in Fig. 4). The nut which raises and lowers the Jack screw is embodied in a worm gear I9 rotated by a worm 20 with which the handle 2i is connected,

The hub of the worm 2l' is extended at 4l and provided with a collar Il wainst which tho compression spring 41 is seated. This spring acts upon a friction clutch disk 48 bearing against a collar 49 which is rotatable on the shaft between angular positions determined by the stops 50 and 5| with which the gauge bearing arm l2 is engageable. The arm l2 may comprise an integral portion of collar 49.

The gauge rod l5 has a portion IB longitudinally adjustable in a 'sleeve 61 at the end of the arm 52. such adjustment providing the initial setting of the gauge. Collapsible upon arm II for storage is an extension gauge arm 550. It will be understood that this device may be pushed beneath the car and the axle with the gauge in the horizontal position illustrated in Pig. 4. As soon as the Jack has been introduced beneath the car to the proper distance, the operator will turn handle 2| in a clockwise direction as viewed Fig. 4. therebytending to raise the jack. The rst quarter turn of'the screw 20' will frictionally drive the collar 49 through the spring pressed clutch member 48 through a 90 degree angle, so that the gauge will now stand erect in a position determined by the stop 50. In this position the handle 2|` manipulate the whole Jack until the gauge strikes the axle in the manner shown in Fig. 1, thereby centering the jack beneath the axle.

When it becomes necessary the initial quarter turn will frictionally move the collar 49 90 degrees into engagement with stop 5|, thereby moving the gauge rod horizontal for withdrawal from beneath the car.

'I'he construction shown in The usual base I6 carries a hydraulic cylinder 58 in which the Jack piston 59 is reciprocable. The handle socket member 80 is pivoted to the cylinder 58 and connected with the pump plunger 6| operating in a pump cylinder 62. The handle 2| may interlock with the socket member l0 in the conventional way to permit the jack to be manipulated forwardly or rearwardly.

On the opposite side of the cylinder 5l from the socket lever 60 is a bracket 65, preferably bifurthe gauge arm 68. The two legs of the bifurcated bracket 68 are connected by a pintle bolt 61 which is engaged in a slot 88 of the gauge arm 66. A relatively heavy tension spring 69 connected between the lower end of gauge arm 66 and the base i6 of the jack, serves to hold the gauge arm approximately vertical.

In order to center the gauge arm with comvertical position, I notch into the notch 10 when the gauge stands upright. 'I'he length of slot I8 is sumcient to permit the whole gauge arm to be raised slightly against the tension of spring 89 to enable the cross pin to leave the notches 10. Obviously, considerable pressure is required to displace the gauge arm from its vertical position, but when it has once been displaced it will fold down as much as required to pass an obstruction. When the obstruction is cleared the gauge arm will again spring maybeusedto` I to its normal erect position as shown. Its height may be varied if desired, by means of the telescopic extension 12.

One advantage of having the arm yieldable in both directions, consists in the fact that its yieldability not only permits it to be inserted beneath the car, but always spares the gauge from becom-` ing bent by abuse.

If the operator jerks rearwardly with too much force after the'gauge has cleared the axle, he will not bend the gauge but will merely cause it to become angularly displaced in the other direction. Yet the resistance of the gauge is entirely adequate to enable the jack to be positioned beneath the axle by touch in accordance with the purposes of the present invention.

While the invention may take many forms other than those herein disclosed, I have attempted to select for the purposes of this disclosure, the most practical and the most representative embodiments of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with an automobile jack comprising a body and an extensible member, of handle means for vcontrolling the extension of said member, and means iorcontrolling from 'a remote vpoint the angularly"tiltableposition of the 1jack body.

2. An automobilejack-comprising the combination with a jack body-'andan extensible member, of means comprising an elongated handle for adjusting saidextensible member respecting said body, and meansincluding connections operable adjacent the end ofsa'idhandle for securing said handle against rotation with -respect to said body, whereby said handle maybe used to manipulate said body betweenla horizontal and vertical position. 3. An automobile jack comprising the combination with a jack body andan extensible member, of means for extending said member comprising a jack handle, and means for manipulating said body comprising a body handle.'i

4. An automobile jack comprising the combination with a jack body and anj extensible member, of means for extending said member comprising' a jack handle, and means for manipulating said body comprising a body handle, said jack handle their respective extremitiesremotes-froxxrmsaid jack.

5. The combination withangautomobile jack comprising a jack body andan extensible member collapsible thereupon, of a gauge projecting from said body beyond the collapsed extent of said.

member, and means for manipulating said jack including means for erecting said gau'ge member.

6. The combination with an automobile jack having a base, a `bod-y portion and an extensible member collapsible upon said body portion, of means comprising a handle for the extension of said member, a gauge connected with said jack to project beyond said member in the collapsed position thereof, and handle means for manipulating said jack and gauge.

7. The combination with an automobile jack comprising a slidabie base', an extension member,

and means comprising an elongated handle for adjusting the extension of said 'member above said base, of a gauge projecting in the direction of extension of said member beyond the extent thereof when collapsed. and means whereby said gauge may swing from its upright position to a I position to clear obstructions.

`controlling means is transmitted to said element for the adjustment thereof about its pivotal axis.

10. The combination with a jack comprising a standard, a jack screw, a nut provided with gear teeth, and gear means coacting with the gear teeth of said nut, of a handle connected with said gear means for the rotation thereof, a .gauge pivoted to said 'jack for movement to and from an upright position, and a friction drive from said gear means to said gauge for eecting the angular movement of said gauge according to the direction of rotation of said gear means by said handle.

, 11. In a device of the character described, the combination with an automobiley jack havingl means for its manipulation, of a gauge pivotally connected with said jack, and means yieldably actingon said gauge in a direction to maintain it normally upright with respect to said jack.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a jack having a body portion and an extensible member, of a gauge pivoted to said body portion and normally projecting in the direction of extension of said member, a spring yieldably urging said gaugeaboirt its pivotal connection with said body toward the said direction of projection therefrom, and means coacting between said gauge and body impositively t`o define the normal upright position of said gauge.

13. The combination with a jack having a body portion, of a bracket, a` gauge member pivoted to said bracket, said gauge and bracket having complementary interacting means impositively denlng an upright position of said gauge, and a spring acting on said gauge in a. direction to maintain it yieldable in said position.

and body handle being c0nnecd-together nem, i; 14. The combination wlth a jack having a body yment loosely fulcrumed on saidpintle and provided with means seif-centering in said notch. wherebyto define a predetermined gauge position, andA a spring yieldably acting on said gauge element to urge it toward said position.

15.,Thel combination ,with a jack comprisinga body, of bifurcated bracket provided with a pintle, a slotted gauge element engaged upon said pintle and yieldable as well as oscillatable thereon, impositive detent means engageable between said gauge element and bracket to restrain said gauge element from oscillatory movement from a predetermined position, said detent means being disengageable upon the lengthwise movement of said gauge element over said pintle, and a spring acting on said gauge elementin a direction to maintain said detent means in engagement and yieldably to urge said gauge element toward said position from any displaced oscillatory position thereof upon said pintle. ARTHUR C. WOLFF. 

